Ginger: Herbal Profile
Zingiber Officinale
Ginger
Zingiberacae Family
Ginger is a common household herb that provides numerous health benefits. It is an excellent herb to have on hand for sore throats, colds, aches and pains, stomach upset, and to warm you up on a chilly day.
Botanical Description
Ginger is said to be native to Asia. It is cultivated primarily in Jamaica, but also in India, China, the Caribbean, and Africa. It prefers warm weather, humidity, and rich, well-drained moist soil. Ginger rhizome was naturalized to Spain and then sold in Europe, finally making it’s way to North America. Ginger root has a light-brown color with a pungent, short rhizome. It is a perennial root, which spreads underground. In the spring, a green or reddish reed, about 2 feet high, with narrow lanceolate leaves appears7. The end of the stalk produces a white or yellow flower, gathered in spikes. The aerial parts of ginger die back every fall3.
Main Actions and Indications
Ginger is known primarily to support the health of the gastrointestinal tract, as a diaphoretic, and as a topical analgesic. It’s most common use is for nausea from morning sickness, motion sickness, or chemotherapy5. Ginger can be taken internally to reduce inflammation and pain of rheumatic diseases1. The oleoresin found in the Zingiberacae family is known to be a digestive, laxative, and carminative6.
One of the most studied constituents in ginger is the gingerol. This constituent is attributed with ginger’s ability to inhibit platelet aggregation, to inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis, reduce cholesterol, and protect the cardiovascular system2. It also plays a role in the anti-nausea effects of ginger.
Other active constituents include gingerdione, shogaol, sesquiterpene and monoterpene volatile oils. These constituents seem to have a variety of pharmacological properties including antipyretic, analgesic, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antibiotic, and a weak antifungal. Other ginger constituents such as 6-shogaol and galanolactone act on serotonin and muscarinic receptors in the GI tract. Galanolactone seems to act primarily on 5-HT3 receptors in the ileum, which are the same receptors affected by some prescription antiemetics such as ondansetron (Zofran). The predominant antiemetic action of ginger is localized in the GI tract, but there is some evidence that ginger constituents may also have central nervous system (CNS) activity4. Ginger is sometimes used as an antihistamine, to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, and to treat migraines and respiratory complaints6. Ginger is also thought to inhibit cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways and inhibit the production of leukotrienes, TNF-alpha, prostaglandin-E2 and thromboxane-B2, which all mediate inflammation. Fresh ginger extract has calcium-channel blocking activity, which lowers blood pressure4. Ginger is relatively well studied and many of its active constituents are known. This rhizome is very supportive to the digestive system, cardiovascular system and to the systems involved in pain and inflammation.
References
1. Al-Nahain, A., Jahan, R., & Rahmatullah, M. (2014, May 27). Zingiber officinale: A Potential Plant against Rheumatoid Arthritis. Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24982806
2. American Botanical Council: HerbClip: Ginger. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbstream/library/Herbclip/index.html#param.wapp?sw_page=@@review?ufgp=075%2Freview41630.html
3. Ginger. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/ginger13.html
4. Ginger Full Monograph. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com.buproxy.bastyr.edu:2048/nd/Search.aspx?cs=SFS&s=ND&pt=100&id=961&ds=&name=GINGER&searchid=48792747
5. Ginger Professional Monograph. (2014, November 29). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.buproxy.bastyr.edu/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/g/ginger/professional.aspx
6. Herb Information: Ginger. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.herbalsafety.utep.edu/facts.asp?ID=9
7. Properties of ginger. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.botanical-online.com/medicinalsgengibreangles.htm
